Leafed device



Sept. 14, 1943. e. s. LEWIS LEAFED DEVICE Filed April 7, 1943 2 Sheets-Shet l 2 M ay Z E 6 7 GH IJ KL AB CD EF ATTORNEYs p 1943. G. s. LEWIS 2,329,547

LEAFED DEVICE Filed April '7, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet? 31 -2 ll r w u 5" 5 m i 3 22 0 L 2 u l m "1 n m .1 I I I I!!! H L 7 0 "f I z x N g 4 11 n z r INVENTOR j g. 6%: 7 27 312 en zls','

ATTORNEYS 1 Patented Sept. 14, 1943 UNITED STATES P E NT O ER This invention relates to improvements, in leafedv devices, such for instance as indexes, etc,, which comprisea book or group ofleaves or pages bearing lists or other data, and means for readily opening the same at any selected leaf and closing the leaves. 7 r One object ofthe invention isto provide. a desirable and convenient device of thisnature which can be quickly and easily manipulated to open the leavesto expose toview any. desired leaves,z-a n d the leaves. I

- whichprefer'ablyoperates automatically toicl'ose Other objects are to provide a practicaland desirable device of the sort mentioned which is of simple and inexpensive construction; which comprises a book or group of indexed leaves that normally remain closed in a standing or upright position but can be readily opened to a selected leafby pressure of a fingeron the index portion of such. leaf, and which will automatically reg turnto" the closed upright position when the pressure on the leaf is released; which comprises loose leaves that are removably.retainedinplace sotthat' any one or more of the leaves can be readily removed andreplaced, or different leaves substituted therefor, or the number of the leaves enlarged or' reduced; which comprises leaves hinged to hinge flaps and confined betweencovers bya holding means in such a manner that the leaves are loosely or 'shiftably confined so asto facilitate the operation of the device and insure the free swinging of the leaves in opening-and closing them.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing specification of the preferred embodimentsiof the invention;

shown'in the accompanying drawings. and-the novel features of the invention are set forth-in the appended claims. lnsaiddrawings: 'Fig. lis a side elevation of the device showing the leaves in'the normal upright or standing closedposition; I {Fig 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Fig. 3- is a side elevation'thereofshowing the position of the parts when the device is opened to expose aselected leaf. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the device when opened, as shown in Fig. 3. 7 I Fig; dis a transverse section' of the device'on line"5-5, Fig. 3. i v r Fig. dis a schematic View illustrating the action of the leaf holder'when opening the book: Figl 7 is a side view; similar to Fig. 3, of a somewhat modifiedconstruction embodying my invention.

=-.Referrin'g first to the embodiment of the invenv tion shown. in Figs. 1-6, the device comprises a book, stack or:-group..of leavespincludin front and-'rearcovers, or outside leaves III and II, and one or moreinner leaves I 2 between, said covers, mounted on arbase I3 to normally occupy a standing or upright position as shown in Fig. 1.

The outside leavesor covers III and II may be made ofzpiecesi of"-.-re1ative1-y stiff paperboard, fiberboardor other. suitable? material. A supporting. or .rockerimembe'r I4 suitably fixed to and-projecting rearwardly from the back cover I I is 'arrangedto'pivot or rock,: as'by ahinge I5 at its. rear end, preferably: ona raised part or block of the. base 'I3:so that the back cover II caniiswingforwardly and rearw'ardly about; the hingeconnectiom or pivot bearing of the memberjM :On the base; Theother or front-cover Hlis-hingedly connected at its lower end With thebackrcoven preferably; as later explained, and said front; cover III is hinged. between its upperzanddoweriends, atlfi, to a fulcrum .member. I1j,whi,ch: is hin ediat its lower end,,at I8. to the; base I 3, atapoint spaced or removed forwardly-fromthe plane ofthe front coverwhen crum inember I 'lsho iv n, consists of a right-angle shaped piece;offiberboard or other suitable ma terial, stiffened and strengthened by triangular side pieces 20 secured to the side edges of the The'hinges I5, I6 and I8 for; these members-may be of any suitable construotion',; such for instance; asflexible strips cemented to :the parts which they connect. Each of'the inner leaves I2- m d be made of thincard stock and is preferably provided-at its lower'gend with a hinge flap 2| hingedly connected t'o theleaf, as by-a flexibl hinge strip cemented tjo: tliegadjacent marginsof the leaf and flap. Theseinner-leaves are,retained in place between the frontand rear 'covers I0 and II, preferably by" a: suitable; leaf: holderor receptacle 2 2 connected withxthe; lower: endiportion ofeme cover so as to swing with this cover. As shown, the receptacle is fixedly secured on the bottom of the supporting member l4, and in the normal position of the parts, lies horizontally below the member [4 with the open end of the receptacle facing toward the lower end of the front cover In. The hinge flaps of the inner leaves extend into the receptacle through its open front end and the leaves extend upwardly from the front hinge edges of the hinge flaps between the front and rear covers. By thus arranging the receptacle horizontally instead of vertically, the height of the device is reduced. The bottom 23 of the leaf receptacle 22 may be hinged at its rear edge to the rear wall of the receptacle, as by a flexible hinge strip. Thereby, the bottom wall 23- is adapted to swing downwardly or away from the top of the receptacle to a limited extent, de-' termined by suitable means, such as stop fingers. 24 which extend down from the supporting m'em ber l4 and have lower ends projecting under the bottom of the receptacle. In this manner the leaves 12 are removably retained between the covers by confinement of the hinge flaps in the holding receptacle 22. The front edge .of thereceptacle bottom 23 is preferably hinged, as. by: a flexible hinge strip, to the lower end of the front cover II), this hinge forming the hinge connec tion, before mentioned, between the lower endsof the front and back covers and Ill.

With the parts thus constructed and arranged, if the upperend of the back cover is. swung rearwardly from its normal upright position, its supporting member I twill swing upward-1y and rearwardly about its hinge or pivot bearing on the base, and through the medium of the hinge connection between the lower ends of the front and? back covers, the front cover will be swung forwardly and downwardly about its hinge connec-- tion with the fulcrum member ll, the latterswinging forwardly and upwardly aboutv its hinge connection 18 with the base. The fulcrummem ber thus forms a movable fulcrum about which the front cover can swing forwardly and down wardly' to the substantially horizontal position shown in Fi 3. Consequently, ifthe upper end of a-seleeted inner leaf is pressed rearwardly; this leaf and the leaves inback of the same; and the back cover will be swung; or tilted backwardly, and the front cover will be swung for-'- wardly as explained, so that the inner leaves in front of the selected leaf'onwhich the pressure is exerted, will rest against and swing with the forwardly inclined and downwardly 'rhovi'ngfro'nt' cover, In this waythe upright book or group of leaves can be readily-opened at any desiredpageor leaf simply by pressing the upper edge of said page rearwardly, which will'cause this leaf and those back of it to move backwardly while the leaves in front of the selectedleaf will swing or open forwardlyand downwardly with the front cover. l I v 1 To facilitate this manipulation of the device, the several inner leaves are preferably providedwith marginal indexed portions, a shown in Fig. 2, which portion for each leaf projects beyond the index portion for the next leaf in front thereof, so as to provide an exposed portionfo'r each leaf which can be engaged by the fingerfor opening the leaves. As shown, the indexed: portions for a part of the leaves are provided at the upper edges thereof while said portions for. the remaining rearward leaves are provided at one side edge of the leaves. Inthislway, the device can be provided-with:

a number bf leaves.

and the index part of each leaf will have an exposed portion of substantial area for engagement by the finger for opening the leaves.

Preferably the rocker and fulcrum members l4 and I! are so proportioned and msitioned relatively to the base and covers with which they are connected that when the leafed book has been opened, as explained, and shown in 3, the weight of the parts will be distributed on the fulcrum and rocker members .so that when the rearwardly tilted back cover and leaves are released, or the finger pressure removed therefrom,

the unbalanced weight of thelower inner por- .tions of the book will overbalance the outer portions thereof and automatically return the parts to normal position and close the leaves or book in the upright position shown in Fig. 1. Thus,

the user only has to press rearwardly the upper end of the selected leaf to open the book at the desired leaf or page, and when the opening pressure is removed, the book will automaticallyclose. This closing action can bemade more positive or rapid bythe use of one or more springs, such for instance, as the light coil springs 26 and! 21 shown in Fig. 3 as attached to the base I3 and respectively to the lower end of the front cover and to the member l4. Such springs, however, are not essential to the described automatic closing of the book-andcan befomitted Also, if desired, one ormore of the parts couldbe appropriately weighted to increase or accelerate the closing action of the device. i v

Since, as explained, the leaves i2 are removably. retained in. place bytheir hinge'flaps seated in the holding receptacle 22', the leaves canbe readily removed whenthe book is open;- permits easy removal and replacement of any leaf or leavesifdesired' for any reason, or; the; substitution of different: leaves for any' of thosein the book,jand a ready increase 'or decrease in the number of leaves. By the described hinging of thejbottom 23 of the holding receptacle22, it

can drop, against its stops during the initial opening movement. of the. book, thereby permitting. the leaves in fr-ontof that leaf on; which the opening. pressurelisapplied to drop. slightly away from the restrained back. leaves,. as indicated diagrammatically in Fig, 6, and thereby ensure. a'

- more certain 'swingingor'openihg. of the unre-l tions oftheleavesifdesired, can be. rev er sedftof facilitate such operation of the deviceg,"

The modified construction shownfin? Fig. 7 difiersfrom theconstruction of'the other figures chiefly: in that therocker orsupporting. member 14a on the back cover H is locatednearer the upper or outer: end of, the cover and. bearsv and pivots onashoulder on a fixedlupright support 30 rising from the base 13. In this modification the book is opened by pressing rearwardly. on. the selected leaf at its upper portion abovethe rocker member Ha, which willfswing the front cover forwardlyand; downwardly about its hinge connection with the fulcrum member flag and: cause thedeavesi2 infront of the selectedone tnL-swingopemwith. the-front cover. When the. pressure is, released; the booir will; be closed a suitable spring-31 which may beattached :toythe I to their standing closed positions.

front. cover and to the'support 30. 1 r

I claim as my invention: x

1. Aleafed device of the character described comprising a: base, a' pair, of covers which nor,- ;mally stand facing: each .other; oversaid base andare hingedly connected atjtheir lower lends,

a supporting imember. projecting from one cover .and fulcrumed on the base outwardly away from the plane of the cover to adapt said cover to swing to and from its standing position, a fulcrum member hinged to the other cover between theupper and lower ends thereof and hinged tothev base outwardly away from the cover covers andarranged at their lower ends toswing relatively :to-each other and to the covers.

'2. A leafed device of the character described comprising a base, a pair of covers which normally stand facingfleach other over said base and are .hingedly connected at their lower ends,

a supportingmember projecting; from one cover and-downwardly 1305311 open position, 'the relaitiveconstruction and arrangement of the parts I 'ofthe device; being such-that when the pressure zonythezback, cover is released, the. command leaves, will, automatically return to upright whereby swinging movementtof one cover will cause'opposite swinging movement of the other cover, and-inner leaves-confined between "said and hinged to the base outwardly away from {the plane icfthe' coverto adapt said coverto swing to and from its standing position, a fulpositely to an open position and when released the covers and leaves will automatically return 3. A leafed device of the character described comprising a base, front and back covers which normally stand upright facing each other above said base and are hingedly connected at their lower ends, a supporting member projecting rearwardly from the back cover and hinged to the base to adapt said back cover to swing to and from its upright position, a fulcrum memforwardly of the cover, and leaves confined between said covers and hinged at their lower ends to swing relatively to each other and to the covers, whereby if the back cover is swung rearsaid base and are hingedly connected at their normally stand upright facing each other above.

lower ends, a supporting member projecting rearwardly from the back cover and hinged to the base to adapt said back cover to swing to and from its upright position, a fulcrum mem ber hinged to thevfront cover between the upper and lower ends thereof and hinged to the base forwardly of the cover, and leaves confined between said covers and hinged at their lower ends,

to swing relatively to each other and to the covers, whereby if the back cover is swung rearwardly from its upright position by pressure on a selected leaf, the front cover and the leaves downwardrmovement of, the front cover and rre- 6,;1Ayleafed; deviceclosed position: c y i 5.; A leafed, {device 1 cf 1 the character described comprising ,--a base, front 7 and back covers which normally stand upright facing each other above saidbase and: are hingedly connected at their lower ends, ,airleaf holder, connected wit the lower "portion :of; said back'cover, leaveshaving hinged ,flaps. at their;jlower: -ends arranged be- :tween-said'covers; with 'said hinged flapsI conrfln'ed, in said holden. ausllpporting member projecting rearwardly fromc the back, cover and hinged-to the base,-;and1a fulcrum member .:hingedito,,th e front cover between the upper'and glowernends thereof and hinged to the base in front; of said cover, rearward tilting of .-,the back cover with one or more leavescausing; forward maining-leaves; 1 .2 AI'L'JJ I: t.

of the character described comprising a base, front and back covers -which normally stand upright facing each other above said base and, are ,--,hinge Y, conne c te'd at their :lower ends, a supporting-member projectingrear- "wardly fromthe,back cover and hinged-to the v base to adapt said, back cover, toswing to and a.-, r.am. i u r h ba t n a ful m m mb hinged tog, the front cover between the upper and lower ends thereof and hinged to 'thebase forwardly of the cover, a leaf holding receptacle on the underside of said Supporting member, and leaves arranged between said covers and having hinged flaps at their lower ends confined in'said receptacle, rearward tilting movement of the 'back cover with one or more leaves causing forin front of said selected leaf will swing forwardly ward downward movement of the front cover and remaining leaves.

7. A leafed device constructed according to, I claim 5 in which the hinged flaps of the leaves are loosely confined in said leaf holder, whereby the leaves can be freely removed from and placed inthe device when the front cover has been moved forwardly and downwardly. I

8. A leafed device constructed according to claim 6, in which the bottom wall of said holding receptacle is capable of a limited downward movement when the covers and leaves are swung away from their upright positionsto relieve pressure on the hinged flaps of theleaves.

9. A leafed device of the character described comprising a base, front and back covers which normally stand upright facing each other above said base, a supporting member projecting rear- Wardly from the lower portion of the back cover and pivoted on the baseto adapt the cover to swing to and from its upright position, an open front leaf-holding receptacle on the underside of said supporting member, the bottom Wall of which is hinged at its front edge to the lower edge of the front cover, and a fulcrum member hinged to the front cover between the upper andlower ends thereof and hinged to said base forwardly of said cover, whereby rearward swinging movement of the back cover from its upright position will cause the front cover to swing forwardly and downwardly on its hinge connection withsaid fulcrum member, and leaves arranged between said covers having hinged flaps at their lower ends confined in said receptacle.

10. A leafed device of the character described 

